Research Interests

Chemical Modification of Polymers

Our research in this area focuses on the design and development of novel catalytic systems. Catalytic reactions currently under study include hydrogenation, metathesis, hydroformylation, hydroxymethylation and hydrosilylation of a variety of diene based polymers and copolymers, as well as natural rubber.

Reactive Polymers

• Syntheses of novel functionalized polymer supports are being studied for the efficient removal and possible treatment or recovery of toxic waste efflucents.
• Chelating resins produced by incorporating multidentate ligands into polymers have aroused widespread interest because of their promise to provide greater selectivity for metal ions in ion exchangers. Sorption characteristics and kinetics of this resin for the selective sorption and recovery of metals are under investigation.

Nanomaterials

• Research is being conducted to generate new knowledge in innovating novel techniques for synthesis, characterization and applications of polymer based nanomaterials, including advanced nanomaterials and drug delivery carriers.
• Synthesis and characterization of nanocatalysts for high activity and selectivity and for greening chemical processes are also being studied.

Catalysis

Our research focuses on the development of catalytic systems which can be employed in catalytic distillation. Reaction systems under study involve aldol condensation reactions, hydrogenation reactions and the oligomerization of olefins.

Professor Garry L. Rempel, Department of Chemical Engineering

Green Catalytic Processes

• Research focuses on innovating novel techniques towards greener catalytic technology. Supercritical fluid techniques are being developed for minimizing the use of solvents and facilitating catalyst recycle.

• Nanotechnology is also being utilized in the design and synthesis of catalyst materials and the development of green processes.

Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Research is being carried out to improve the existing industrial processes by intensification of the processes in transport behaviour
• Research is being conducted to innovate highly efficient novel reactors and novel processes, and effort is especially paid to the development of continuous processes for modification of diene-based polymers.